Unit 15 John Steinbeck: The Moon Is Down II UNIT 15 : JOHN STEINBECK: THE MOON IS DOWN II UNIT STRUCTURE 15.1 Learning Objectives 15.2 Introduction 15.3 Summary of the Novel 15.4 Principal Characters 15.5 Themes of the Novel 15.6 Style and Language 15.7 Let us Sum up 15.8 Further Reading 15.9 Answers to Check Your Progress 15.10 Model Questions 15.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this unit, you will be able to: z grasp the content of the novel z appreciate the characters of the novel z analyse the themes, style and language used in the novel 15.2 INTRODUCTION In unit 14, you have studied the form of the novel in general and we have discussed the different aspects of the novel in relation to John Steinbeck’s novel The Moon is Down. We also looked at the significance of the title of the novel and discovered how Steinbeck’s allusion from Macbeth suggests that the invaders had brought a spiritual darkness to Mayor Orden’s town. In our discussion of the context of the novel, we looked at the intellectual and 208 Alternative English (Block 2) John Steinbeck: The Moon Is Down II Unit 15 emotional needs that the novel had tried to fulfill among a free people when they had found their democratic ideals crushed by aggression in their occupied town. This unit introduces you to a chapter-wise summary of the novel to help you to relate the story to the discussion on various aspects of the novel in a more meaningful way. However, the summary of the novel does not, in any way, claim to be a substitute for the original novel. It is hoped that the summary can make you interested in reading the novel. There are other issues taken up in this unit besides the summary. You will be introduced to the principal characters of the novel. Besides, there is an attempt to look at the themes of the novel. Further, there is also an attempt to discuss the stylistic features of the novel. 15.3 SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL Read the chapter-wise summary of the novel given below followed by a brief commentary on each chapter. Chapter 1 The novel opens with the invasion of a sea-side European town on a Sunday morning exactly at 10.45. The town had been unprotected at that moment. Mr. Coroll, the town’s popular storekeeper, had lent his fishing boat that morning to the postman and the policeman, two important officials of the town, for a fishing trip at sea. They were several miles at sea when they saw the small, desk transport, loaded with soldiers go quietly past them. They hurried back to the shore but were immediately taken prisoners of war and locked up in the town jail. Glade : an open space in a wood or forest. The town had a troop of twelve soldiers for its protection. But that Sunday morning, they had been away too, for Mr. Corell had arranged for them a shooting competition to take place six miles back in the hills in a lovely glade that Mr. Corell owned. When these soldiers heard the approaching Alternative English (Block 2) 209 Unit 15 John Steinbeck: The Moon Is Down II aircraft and saw the parachutes, they hurried back to town. When they arrived, the invaders opened fire on them killing six and severely injuring three. The other three escaped into the hills. Meanwhile, a message was delivered to Mr. Orden, the Mayor of the town, that Colonel Lanser of the invading battalion would be meeting him at eleven o’clock in the Mayor’s five room palace. An advance team led by Captain Bentick arrived at the Mayor’s house where they met Dr. Winter, a friend of the Mayor. It was from captain Bentick that Dr. Winter learnt about the role of Mr. George Corell in the invasion. They took away the two fire arms of the Mayor and left. At exactly eleven o’clock Colonel Lanser arrived in the company of Mr. Corell. Seeing him Doctor Winter informed the Mayor about Mr. Corell’s role in the invasion. Mayor Orden was very annoyed to hear this and told Colonel Lanser that he did not wish to speak in his company. Ultimately, the Colonel ordered him out of the room. After seating himself Colonel Lanser told the Mayor that their arrival was more like a business venture than anything also. They needed the coal mine and the fishing. He sought the co-operation of Mayor Orden in getting the coal out, stating that though he had technicians, he would like the local people to continue to work in the mine. He then added that the Mayor would continue as Mayor and would give the orders, penalize and reward as before. Next, Colonel Lanser suggested that he and his staff would like to stay in Mayor Orden’s house. He told the Mayor that when a staff lives under the roof of the local authority, there was more tranquility. People would think that there was more co-operation. Chapter 2 Colonel Lanser and his staff of five officers took possession of three rooms and the upper floor of the Mayor’s palace. Colonel Lanser’s staff included Mayor Hunter, an engineer with a great interest in arithmetic who saw each man in terms of a mathematical figure that could be added, subtracted and multiplied. The officer next in seniority was Captain Bentick with his tremendous admiration for everything British. He was too old to be a captain but a curious lack of ambition had kept him in that rank. 210 Alternative English (Block 2) John Steinbeck: The Moon Is Down II Unit 15 The next officer in the staff was Captain Loft, a young man who had no unmilitary moments. He knew every kind of military courtesy besides the deportment of a soldier. The other two members of the staff, Lieutenants Prackle and Tonder, were undergraduates who were trained in the politics of the day. They were sentimental men given to tears and to fury. Colonel Lanser alone was an officer with a vast experience of war in Belgium and France. He considered war as treachery and hatred, the muddling of incompetent generals, the torture and killing , sickness and tiredness, until at last, it was all over. Colonel Lanser and his staff made themselves comfortable in Mayor Orden’s house. On the day following the invasion, Major Hunter was busy with his engineering drawing in the room which they used like a club. He was assisted by Prackle and Tonder; Captain Loft entered the room after completing his round of duty. A little later Colonel Lanser arrived and instructed Captain Loft to relieve Captain Bentick at the coal mine as he was not feeling well. Meanwhile, a sentry knocked at the door and informed the colonel that Mr. Corell wished to see him. Mr. Corell entered the room and at his request that he wished to see him alone, Prackle and Tonder were sent out of the room though Major Hunter was asked to stay. Colonel Lanser noticed a white bandage on Mr. Corell’s head. He told Corell to leave the town immediately stating that he did not believe the injury on his head to be an accident. Besides, he did not have enough men to provide Mr. Corell with a body guard. But Mr. Corell had other plans. He told colonel Lanser that if Mayor Orden stepped down, he could take over as Mayor for a better co-ordination between the army and the civil administration. However, Colonel Lanser did not agree to the suggestion. He knew that as Mr. Corell had incurred the hatred of the people of the town, he was not suitable to be a Mayor. Colonel Lanser’s job was to get the coal out. To do that, he must maintain order and discipline. That would be possible only when he could anticipate revolt; he must know Alternative English (Block 2) 211 Unit 15 John Steinbeck: The Moon Is Down II what was in the minds of the people. With Orden as Mayor, he had not been able to do that. Besides, he had no orders to carry out such a suggestion. So he suggested that Mr. Corell should go back to the capital. At that moment Captain Loft entered the room in a tense mood followed by two stretcher bearers carrying the body of captain Bentick covered with blankets. Captain Loft reported to the Colonel that Captain Bentick was killed in the mine by a miner and that the miner was arrested. Colonel Lanser ordered Captain Loft to request Mayor Orden to see him immediately. Chapter 3 In the town the people moved sullenly through the streets. Some light of astonishment was gone from their eyes, but still the light of anger had not taken Sullenly : in a morose its place. They went about doing their duties in sullenness, disturbed by the and resentful manner. sudden change that had come to the town. Joseph, the Mayor’s serving man, and Annie, the cook, were directed to arrange the furniture in the Mayor’s drawing room. The trial of Alex Morden, the miner who was charged with killing Captain Bentick with a pick axe, was to be held in that room. Both Joseph and Annie had known Alex and his wife Molly. They felt that the invaders had no right to try Alex Morden. Annie, who had gained quite a reputation as an exponent of liberty by throwing boiling water on a soldier hanging about her kitchen, was very upset at Joseph’s remark that Alex was to be shot.